The Great Sage Who Did not Remain in Legend - 20.1

Shortly after Mergin arrived home, the landlady came over.

“Hm? What’s up? It’s rare to see you here.”

It was the landlady’s first time visiting here. Actually, the only ones who come to this house are those orphan kids.

“Mergin, can I have a word with you?”

The landlady had a serious expression. She was invited inside.

“You keep it quite tidy here.”

“Well, there’s not much stuff. Anyway, what’s up?”

“Sorry.”

“For what?”

“I said I’d hire that girl, but it turned out to be impossible.”

“Something happen?”

“Well, you see…”

Rikka seemed quite upset, saying that hiring Iris wouldn’t work out.

“I see, then it can’t be helped.”

“Um, was it Iris? I’m really sorry for making a promise and then not being able to keep it.”

“N-No, it’s on me for asking the impossible. Please don’t worry about it. I’ll sort things out myself soon, so…”

“I see… I really apologize.”

The landlady bowed her head repeatedly. As she left, she whispered something to Mergin.

“Mergin, sorry, but please don’t come by for a while.”

“Is Rikka really that upset?”

“Yeah, it seems pretty serious. It’d be fine if it was just you, but if both of you came…”

“Got it. Tell the boss I’m sorry for causing trouble.”

“Yeah, I’ll make sure to say that.”

After the landlady left,

“Mergin, I’m sorry for everything.”

Iris looked very sad.

“Well, don’t worry about it. These things happen. So, what are you going to do now? If it’s just eating and sleeping, it’s not a problem, but you must be bored if there’s nothing else to do, right?”

“Huh?”

When you saved me by driving away a wolf, I really thought you were a nasty person, but since you helped me again in the royal capital, you’ve been so kind that you don’t seem like the same person anymore.

“I can’t help you at my store, and even if you help me, no customers come, so there’s nothing to do.”

“Oh, um…”

“What is it? You don’t need to clean or do laundry. Magic will finish it quickly.”

“N-No… Why are you being so kind to me? There’s no need for you to bother with someone like me…”

“Well, I got involved. Besides, it’s your fault for coming here with such a naive idea, but it’s not your fault for what happened afterward. When children are helpless, they need adult help, right?”

“Children… I’ll be an adult next year.”

“So now you’re a child, right? Isn’t that right?”

“N-No…”

“Don’t worry about it. What do you want to do? Do you want to work in a place like this?”

“Something I want to do… I’m not sure.”

“Yeah, I guess so. Iris is 14 years old, just like the age I was when I was summoned to another world. I didn’t know what I wanted to be in the future when I was asked back then. Unlike my talented older brother, I escaped into the imaginary world by watching cartoons and anime.”

“Then, is there anything you don’t want to do?”

“Something impossible… um, the brothel is a bit… other than that, not particularly.”

“You don’t like the brothel… Well, you probably won’t be able to make much money even if you become a courtesan. The old lady also said 30,000 yen.”

Iris was shocked. She was upset because she thought she was quite cute.

“What about being a hunter or working at the court?”

“Huh? A hunter? Court service? Isn’t that impossible?”

“Is it? If you try, you might be able to do it.”